![]() |
Semele's Temple Sweeper, Eveline Chang. Photo: Eveline Chang |
If you asked me a couple of weeks ago if I ever thought I’d have the chance to perform on the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House stage with world-renowned artists, I would have said you were cruel for teasing me. So when the call came up for an extra, or supernumerary, for the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Semele (closing tonight!), I did a double-take. As a program manager for BAM Education, I spend much of my time in the studio, backstage, or front of house. This new role—Temple Sweeper—needless to say, uncovered a completely different side of BAM for me.
During rehearsals with the COC, I learned the mysterious story of the woman I was portraying: the real-life keeper of the 17-ton, Ming Dynasty temple from rural China. Ruan Jinmei is featured in Director Zhang Huan’s documentary film and ash painting that bookend the opera, bringing a contemporary Eastern dimension to the mythology of Handel’s Semele.
Being a first-time extra in an opera means two things: 1) you realize it takes a small army to realize productions of this scale and 2) you have a lot of free time backstage to learn all about it. In the wings are New York City’s and Toronto’s finest stage managers and stagehands that change the scenes in a matter of seconds. The COC runs command central out of the green room, where the principals zoom by making their entrances and exits with personal wardrobe assistants keeping pace. Upstairs are a maze of dressing rooms, wardrobe, and makeup. Many of these talented behind-the-scenes folks have worked on major TV shows, fashion shoots, ballet companies, and other operas.
![]() |
Performers prepare backstage. Photo: Eveline Chang |
ABOVE: Semele costumes. Photo: Claire Frisbie BELOW: (L) Eveline Chang & Byamba Ulambayar. Photo: Eveline Chang; (R) BAM Backstage pass. Photo: Eveline Chang |
![]() |
Semele's Super Sweeper. Photo: Eveline Chang |
No comments:
Post a Comment